75HP Tracker Mercury start issues

[catalin4g]

Hello everyone and thanks you for reading this.

I have a 1999 Tracker/Mercury outboard, 75HP, seems I may have done something wrong or it could have had an issue already!?

To begin with, here is my first attempt to drive the boat, a cold morning (around 45F). Motor started with normal procedure, pumped gas, trimmed down, lifted the idle lever, choke (key press) in and there it goes. I didn't know any better at that time and lowered the idle lever down, the engine took another couple of seconds and came to a stop. Subsequent attempts to restart were not successful, the battery eventually drained out after about 20 tries. I also waited for about 30 mins in case the motor was flooded. Tried to jump-start with the other batteries (deep-cycle) from the group, no luck, also the car battery did not seem to make any difference. Later on I discovered the bendix was stuck on the flywheel and any battery did not seem enough to make that spin. Put some WD-40 and was able to start from a truck(jump cables) and imediately after from the boat battery which I thought it was complete dead at that point...

One week later I was actually able to start, run, stop and so on, without issues, for an entire evening. No issues whatsoever.

My next attempt was in similar conditions, able to start nicely, get on the water, however, trying to come back got me into the issue of the bendix getting stuck into flywheel. Batteries are Everstart, from this year, have a ProMariner bank charger and voltage to cranking battery seems alright (12+V). Trying to start the engine at home does not work no matter how I try.

Recently I purchased a booster JNC660, this thing seems to be the only way to get it started, it will also get the bendix unstuck or will just push the flywheel with speed. Not sure if that is the right way to do it, feel like cheating

I also noticed two things: flywheel has some uneven wear on some of the gear teeth. Also the nut that keeps the bendix attached to the electric motor seems to be loose, not sure what its normal position should be. If I screw it all the way down, the bendix will just spin but won't jump to attach to flywheel.

Any suggestions of what can be done to get it working consistently from the boat battery?

Appreciate you advise...

CG

 

[moser]

If you are just putting the jumper box on the battery posts and it is then working like you think it should, you have to suspect the connection at the battery, or the battery itself regardless of age. You should pull that battery out and get it tested, where it is completely charged, then loaded down to pull off static charge and then tested. That's the only way to get confidence in the condition of that battery. New batteries fail every day.

A little PB blaster and a well charged battery are all that it usually takes to fix bendix issues with not kicking out properly. I don't know what you might have now with messing with the nut. Someone else may be able to give you advice there.

I had a 1998 version of that motor, (75 ELPTO) and when it would flood I could push a button in the center of the controller and roll the throttle on to get it to start. If you do that BE PREPARED, for the motor to start and rev to wide open immediately if you don't pull the throttle back quickly.

 

[catalin4g]

Thank you for your reply, I was able to find a decent experienced boat mechanic and the problem was the starter motor, he replaced it and no more problems now. Battery is weak indeed but still able to crank.